It felt as though the night had lasted an eternity. Merlin had tried to sleep; he'd been trying for hours in fact. And yet the more time that passed the more he tossed and turned. By the time sunlight had started to filter into his room the young warlock had given up on the hope of getting any rest before his day began.
A dull ache spread throughout his head as Merlin forced himself to rise, knowing that while he was exhausted, at least he wouldn't be late in waking Arthur. His movements were slow and heavy as he rifled through a stack of clothes that he'd yet to do more with than merely toss in the corner.
Changing from his bedclothes, his eyes drifted over his left shoulder and side of his chest, the last of the bruises from Sir Silas' visit a few weeks before finally fading as he tugged on a tunic and snatched a neckerchief from the pile of laundry.
Stifling a yawn while he stumbled out of his room, Merlin found the physician already up and going about his day. A mess of glass vials filled the majority of the table, while the rest was covered in stacks of books. It looked as though the man was in the midst of rearranging one of his cabinets, but the warlock was too tired to bother asking as the elder glanced up from his work and at his ward.
"Morning. You look well rested." Frowning at the sarcasm, the boy dropped onto a stool and slouched against the table, already wishing the day were over and done with.
"I couldn't sleep last night." He muttered, dropping his head between a set of vials and a mortar as Gaius shuffled about on the other side.
"Any particular reason?" The elder asked as Merlin tilted his head and watched him as his lips moved in a silent count while his fingers skimmed over the top of his books.
"Aside from getting in late because Arthur needed his armor polished at the last minute? No, don't think so." He grumbled, his cheek pressed against the wooden planks as his eyes drifted shut.
"You look a bit pale." The physician commented as he stepped closer, the boy's eyes flickering open before Merlin sat up reluctantly. "You were in the Lower Town a few days ago, perhaps-"
"I'm fine." The warlock cut in, shaking his head a fraction and wincing at the jolt of pain that throbbed behind his eyes. "I'm just tired is all." He assured, though his mentor let out a doubtful hum that indicated his disbelief. Gaius said nothing else on the matter though, instead placing a small dish in front of the boy who found his appetite to be lacking. "Thanks." He murmured, picking up his spoon while the physician cleared his throat.
"You may want to take that to go." He advised as blue eyes peered up in question.
"Why?"
"You'll be late otherwise."
Looking to the sunlight that fell across the floor of the room in streaks, the boy let out a quiet curse before shoveling a couple of spoonful's of his breakfast into his mouth. "Thanks, Gaius!" He called through the food as he quickly rose and tied the scarf around his neck while heading for the door.
"Be careful you don't choke!" He warned as the warlock swallowed and coughed, glancing over his shoulder with a sheepish expression.
"I'm fine." He waved, his voice hoarse as he closed the door on his mentor muttering about him.
Maneuvering his way through the already bustling halls and entering the kitchen, the servant was relieved to find Arthur's tray already prepared and sat out for him. Grabbing ahold of it and slipping back into the corridor, Merlin made his way towards the prince's chambers. In his rush the ache in his head had flared, settling into a pulsing pain as the warlock came to a stop in front of Arthur's room and hesitated, drawing in a slow breath and swallowing down his discomfort.
Pushing open the door and preparing himself for the day, Merlin placed the tray on the table with little care, the noise of the dishes clattering resounding through the quiet room as the lump beneath the blankets on the bed twitched.
A low groan sounded and as the warlock neared the windows he turned to find the blond with his head half beneath a pillow and his arm dangling off the side. Maybe he wasn't feeling top notch, but the boy couldn't resist the opportunity presented to him as he hid his smirk and yanked open the drapes to allow sunlight to flood the room.
The effect was immediate, the prince's body jerking as his eyes closed tighter and he tugged the pillow over his face. "Merlin!" The muffled yell was easy to decipher as the servant cracked a smile, walking closer as squinted blue hues peeked angrily out at him.
"Morning, Arthur." He said cheerily, passing the bed and walking towards the wardrobe. "Lots to do today." The boy continued, pulling open the wooden door and retrieving clothes for the prince as the bed creaked behind him.
"Must you always be so disgustingly chipper in the morning?" Glancing over his shoulder at the complaint, the smile Merlin wore widened into a grin at the disheveled nature of the blond's hair.
"Must you always be such a grouch?"
"I am not a grouch!" Arthur snapped as the servant turned away.
"Could've fooled me." He muttered to himself as the bed creaked again at the prince moving.
"Did you get my armor cleaned last night?"
"Your armor?" Merlin asked, biting back his amusement at the groggy man stretching before him. "I knew I forgot something.."
"You forgot?" The prince gaped, all signs of sleep fading from his face as he stared the servant down.
"Was it important?" He questioned, feigning his best look of innocence as Arthur sputtered in shock.
"Important? Of course it was important, Merlin!"
"Actually, now that I think about it, I did get it done."
"You-" Arthur cut himself off, a furious glare landing on the servant who remained as innocent as ever. While he would have preferred rest the night before, he found riling up the blond offered a sense of amusement that helped ease the strain. "I should have you put in the stocks." The prince ground out, jabbing a finger towards him before stalking over and refusing to look at the servant as he helped the man to dress.
Flashing Merlin a scowl when he'd finished, the prince sat at the table and drove his fork through one of his sausages while the boy went about straightening his bed. The moment of enjoyment faded faster than the warlock would have liked, tugging on one side of the blanket as his chest tightened and a cough forced its way out of his mouth.
Turning his head and smothering the noise, Merlin glanced towards the prince when he began to speak. "I'm having dinner with my father and Morgana tonight after I've finished testing the knights." Chewing on a piece of bread, the blond turned and eyed the servant. "So be sure my boots are clean. The last time you left mud on them."
As he turned back to his food, Merlin narrowed his eyes at him, biting back what he wanted to say about how he had been the one who stepped in the puddle after Merlin had already cleaned them. "I'll also want a bath drawn before then, after having been out on the field." He continued as the warlock sat the pillows upright and coughed again, the sudden jerking motion driving up the pain in his head.
Lifting his gaze to respond, he found annoyed blue hues staring at him as he cleared his throat and turned away instead, beginning to gather up the laundry that had been left out the night before. He could already tell it was going to be a long day and he'd only been around the prince for a few minutes.
The morning had drug on and on, tedious chores stacking together one after another that Merlin found himself struggling to get through. Normally they would be nothing, but his lack of rest had made even the smallest task seem nearly impossible.
He'd been sluggish and out of sorts from the beginning, but as he stood beneath the sun that beat down on him, the warlock felt even worse. The ache in his head had doubled, becoming a painful throb that refused to be ignored, and a heavy weight had settled on top of his chest.
"Will you hurry up? This should have been done right the first time." Arthur chided, shifting where he stood while Merlin adjusted one of the straps on his armor. Instead of responding to him, the servant tugged the leather tight and watched while the prince moved a couple of times, testing the way it felt.
"It should be a quick few fights. They've done well, but they're nowhere near ready to be knighted. They're foolish to even be trying." The blond stated, glancing across the training field where several of the men were sparring with each other.
"Maybe they'll surprise you." Merlin offered, turning away to cough, his lungs burning as he drew his hand up and leaned over while the noise rattled out of him.
"Are you sick?" Arthur demanded when the boy had stood up straight, a shudder running through him as he met the other's stern gaze.
"What? No." He shook his head, turning and retrieving the prince's sword.
"Then stop with the coughing."
"You can't just, stop coughing, that's not how coughing works."
With an annoyed huff and a roll of his eyes, Arthur yanked the sword from the boy's hands and slid it into his sheath. Backing a step away, the warlock's chest constricted again and he turned away, a hand clamped over his mouth to suppress the next cough that was determined to come out.
"Merlin!"
"You can't just stop it, Arthur!" The boy snapped, swallowing away the ache the fit had brought on as the prince glared at him.
"All of my boots need a good cleaning, go and do that."
"All of them?" Merlin stared, finding that the clarification had only served to strike up a look of amusement at his cost.
"Yes, Merlin, did I stutter? If you can't stop that infernal sound then you might as well be off doing it somewhere else. I can't have you distracting me."
"Distracting you? I thought you said these would be quick and easy fights?" He shot back, irritation rising up within him.
"They will be, but a distraction is a distraction and a fight is still a fight, no matter how easy." Beginning to argue, another short cough stopped his words and caused the blond to frown in his direction. "Go, Merlin. Just make sure you're done and back before I'm finished."
"Fine." He muttered, too tired to bother fighting him anymore as he began to trudge off.
"Oh, and cheer up, Merlin! You're acting a bit of a grouch today!" Arthur called out after him, a smirk wide on his face as he started off towards his men.
Coughing into his hand, Merlin took the opportunity and covered his mouth, his eyes flashing to gold. "Eorðe ac stanas." Looking behind him, the warlock watched as Arthur's next step faltered and the prince lurched forwards, the man forced to throw out his arms and steady himself to keep from falling flat on his face.
As he stood back upright, several of the men who had been training were hiding their laughter just as Merlin himself was, the boy turning back and making his way through the busy corridors of the citadel.
The warlock didn't have any problem leaving the field, he was happy in fact to be out of the sun. But the feeling was quickly subdued when he realized the amount of work that lay ahead of him.
Entering the empty room with slouched shoulders and scuffling feet, Merlin paused and glanced around. The room was empty, and it would be for a while. Pressing his lips together and looking behind him, the boy closed the door and pushed his back against it, his eyes flickering to a shimmering gold.
As if invisible hands were working with him, several of the boots began to clean themselves as a tired smile rose to the boy's face. The idea was reckless, and certain to get him in trouble if anyone found out, but as he settled down and retrieved one of the still boots to work on himself, he found he really didn't care all that much. He kept one eye on the door and one on his magic while he worked, the task going faster than he'd thought as the boots lined themselves up and Merlin stared at them in satisfaction.
With the job being complete and Arthur still out on the field, Merlin was left with time on his hands, something that had become rare for him recently. Stepping back into the busy corridors and keeping to one side as much as possible, Merlin wanted nothing more than to spend that precious bit of time in the silence of his room.
The more the day had worn on the more the warlock felt his body revolting against his lack of rest the night before. He'd been without sleep on other occasions, but he seemed unable to cope as well this time around. His body dragged, the heat had become unbearable, and the constant pain in his head had long overstayed its welcome.
By the time he'd reached the physician's chambers, Merlin could barely even keep his eyes open. He knew he should go back out to Arthur, to be there right when he was done, but he had finished his job early and the temptation of just a few minutes of rest before continuing on with his day had proven too good to pass up.
"Merlin, good, you're back. I need you to make a few deliveries for me today." Gaius spoke when the boy had stepped through the door.
"Can they wait until later?" He asked quietly, trudging into the room as the elder looked up at him. "I've not got long before Arthur wants me back and this pain in my head just won't go away." He murmured, sinking down onto one of the stools as the physician drew close.
"Honestly he didn't even really need me, but of course today of all days would be the time he has me off doing absolutely everything." He continued, his eyes beginning to burn as he dropped his head into his hands and pressed his fingers against his temples.
"Merlin, look at me." Gaius urged as the boy's head lifted weakly and found concerned eyes staring back at him. "You look awful."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" He asked dryly, beginning to sit up before a cough had him doubling over again.
"I don't think this is just from your lack of sleep last night, Merlin." The physician began, stepping away from his ward and rifling through his potions behind him. "After having been in the Lower Town I would not ignore the possibility that-"
"Gaius, really, I'm fine." Merlin cut in, closing his eyes and rubbing at his temples again. "I'm not sick, I'm just tired. Between Arthur and the outbreak I haven't had much time to rest. I just need this ache to go away and I'll be fine. I'll do the deliveries for you after Arthur has gone to dinner with his father."
When he didn't receive a response, Merlin pulled open his eyes and stared at a green tinted vial held out in front of him. "Drink this, it will help your thick head." Gaius instructed, a hint of annoyance in his words as the warlock took it and quickly downed the contents.
The bitter taste it left in his mouth drew out a disgusted face, the boy passing the vial back to the elder. "These really taste terrible." He grimaced, swallowing down the flavor.
"Perhaps, but they work." The man responded with a pointed stare that Merlin worked to ignore.
Pushing himself up from the stool, the warlock wavered for a moment as another coughing fit doubled him over, a hand grabbing ahold of the table beside him as it racked through his body. When it had passed and the boy stood taller he could feel the physician's pressing gaze burning a hole through him.
"I'm fine." He mumbled, his head swimming as he trudged up the steps to his room and pushed open the door, stumbling towards his bed. Without another thought Merlin collapsed on top of the mattress, his eyes already shut before his head had hit the pillow.
He would stay for just a few minutes. Just long enough for the potion he'd taken to kick in and rid him of the throbbing that had worsened with his last bout of coughing. Once it was gone he would get up and get on with his work and Arthur would never need to know.
Settling into a relatively comfortable half daze, Merlin kept track of the minutes that passed as he rested. Or at least, he thought he had. At what point he'd drifted off he wasn't sure, but he knew the minute he'd been woken. Something had fallen in the other room, something heavy clattering to the floor that had jerked the warlock from his sleep.
Blinking hazily, Merlin felt worse than he had before. Every inch of his body ached as if he'd spent two days endlessly traipsing through the woods. The pain in his head had faded, but it had been replaced with a soreness in his throat and a burning in his chest. Something that felt important prodded at the back of the warlock's mind as his eyes began to close again, but when he couldn't place what exactly it was he allowed himself to give back in to the pull of sleep.
"Merlin!" Jolting, the boy's eyes flew open as his door swung wide and Arthur strode inside, both shock and fury fighting for its place on the blond's face as he stared the servant down.
"What are you doing?" He demanded as Merlin stared, trying to figure out why exactly he was being shouted at inside his own room. "Why are you sleeping in the middle of the day?" Arthur spat, waving his arms about and glaring at the warlock, anger having been the expression he finally settled for. "I knew you were lazy, but this is too much even for you!"
Pushing himself up with shaking arms, Merlin grimaced and threw his legs over the side of the bed, still unsure of what was going on. "Why are you here?" He questioned, his brain a mess of fog as the blond stared back in stunned silence.
"Why am I here?" He asked, his voice unusually quiet as he took a step closer. "Merlin, I am late for dinner with my father because my pathetic excuse for a servant is lazing about in bed when he's meant to be working! That's why I'm here!"
Blinking, the day flooded back to the boy as Merlin's eyes widened in horror. Oh gods, oh hell. "Arthur, I'm so sorry." He began, pushing himself up from the bed. "I didn't mean-"
As he stood the words faltered, his world caving in around him as a surge of dizziness had the floor rushing up to meet him. Before it could, two hands shot out and caught the warlock's shoulders, keeping him from falling to the ground.
"Merlin!"
Another coughing fit rippled through the boy, his body tensing as he leaned forwards and crashed into the blond, his head pressing into his shoulder as the hands around him tightened.
"Sorry.." He rasped out, barely aware that Arthur had pushed him back until he was sitting once more on his bed.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me that you were sick?" The prince demanded, his hands still keeping the other steady as Merlin grimaced, the level of his voice drawing the ache back to his head.
"I'm not." He muttered softly, though even he'd stopped believing that after the last few minutes.
"I can feel the heat coming off you, Merlin, you've got a fever you idiot." Arthur chided, pulling away from him finally and glaring down at him in annoyance. Rather than objecting, Merlin coughed again, his body drawing in closer as he shuddered.
"Arthur?" Looking up at the voice, Gaius stood frozen in the doorway and looked between the two of them before an understanding fell over him. "He never returned to work, did he?"
"No, he didn't." Arthur scoffed, folding his arms across his chest.
"I'm afraid this may be my doing. Merlin was helping me a few days ago with an outbreak in the Lower Town, and it seems he has caught the same illness that was spreading." Gaius explained, casting a look towards the warlock who still sat hunched on the edge of his bed.
"Why didn't he tell me that he was sick?"
"The boy is stubborn."
"And right here." Merlin croaked, his voice strained as he tried to swallow past the rawness of his throat. "If you're going to talk about me at least go into the other room."
"You should have said something, you complete idiot. I even asked you if you were ill and you said no." The blond snapped, the complete and utter disapproval in his gaze causing the boy to duck his head.
"I could still work, so I did." He stated simply, curling in on himself as another round of coughing shot through him. The sound echoed loudly in his ears, his chest burning as though it had been set on fire as he clenched his hands together, tears springing to his eyes at the force. He'd seen the families who had suffered from the sickness, but he hadn't thought it was so bad. He felt miserable, and when the fit finally died down he was left weary and gasping for breath.
"Merlin."
A hand fell on the boy's shoulder and when he looked up he found Gaius hovering over him, a cup in hand. Taking it carefully and drinking, the water inside worked its way down his dry throat and eased a bit of the pain in his chest.
Lowering the cup a moment later and glancing across the room, both men were staring down at him in silence. Gaius wore an expression of concern while Arthur held a stern mask, his eyes flickering over the servant with a tense frown tugging at his lips.
The physician took the cup from the boy when he'd finished while the prince shifted, standing off to the side. "You'll watch over him I presume?"
"Of course." Gaius nodded as Arthur started for the door.
"What are you going to do?" Merlin called out as the blond turned and flashed him an irritated look.
"I'm going to find someone to do your job."
"No one can do my job." The warlock muttered, dropping his head. "You don't even know what my job is." He added softly as Gaius's hand reached out and nudged him.
"I'm certain I can find someone to show up late for everything." The prince commented dryly as a small pout formed on the servant's lips.
"That's not fair, you're late places too."
"Yes, I am, because my manservant can't be bothered to show up on time. Or to inform me when he's ill."
Starting to retort to that, his words were cut off by another string of coughs, Merlin's eyes squeezing shut as his body lurched with the action. Gaius' hand settled on his arm and guided the boy back until he was lying on his side, his head against the pillow as he drew in a shallow breath. Half lidded eyes met the prince's gaze, a tense expression furrowing his brows before his hands were tightening into fists and he was looking away, shifting his stare to the floor.
"I didn't mean to make you late.. I intended to be there.." He murmured, exhaustion washing over him as Arthur glanced up, his expression softening before he turned away with a sigh.
"I know."
Closing his eyes fully, Merlin felt the hand on his arm pull away as their quiet voices drove him back towards sleep. It was anything but restful though, the boy tossing and turning until he woke with another coughing fit, his body jerking up as a cloth fell into his lap.
When the fit subsided, he realized Gaius was beside him, a comforting hand against his back as the warlock blinked away the moisture gathering in his eyes. Looking towards the doorway where his door was partially open, he looked back to the elder sitting next to him.
"Arthur left?" He questioned, his voice breaking at the strain.
The man nodded in response, worry for his ward unmistakable in his eyes. "Quite some time ago, yes."
Barely bobbing his head, Merlin began to lie back before he was shooting back up, his heart racing as he looked to his darkened windows. "The deliveries." He breathed, lowering his head as the sudden movement caused the room to spin around him.
"Don't worry about those, I took care of them." The physician assured, pushing on his shoulder's to have him lie back.
"I'm sorry, Gaius. I said I'd do them." Merlin apologized quietly, tears burning at his eyes again as his mentor's hand patted his arm.
"Don't work yourself up about such a thing, you cannot help being ill."
"Arthur's probably furious." He murmured, closing his eyes again and sinking into the pillow as he shuddered. At some point his boots had been pulled off and his blanket laid over him, the familiarity and comfort relaxing him as he settled back.
"I believe he was more worried than anything else." The physician corrected, a small smile on his face when the warlock looked up at him.
"Worried about who he will torment, I'm sure." He uttered, though there were no harsh feelings spoken with it. Had Arthur been concerned for him? He almost couldn't believe such a thing, but then the tone of irritation at not having been told he was sick came to mind, and the way he'd held him steady when he'd collapsed.
The sound of water dripping into a bowl drew the warlock from his daze, the cloth that had fallen replaced against his forehead with the sensation of water cooling his burning skin as Merlin closed his eyes and tilted his head towards the physician, his cheek brushing against his hand.
"Sorry for this.." He mumbled, already beginning to drift off again as the hand moved, settling into the mess of the boy's dark hair.
"You have nothing to apologize for, just get better." The elder said kindly, his fingers moving gently as the warlock shifted closer to the sound of the man's voice.
"Thanks.."
"Rest now, Merlin." Gaius encouraged, his fingers moving once more through his hair as the boy surrendered into the pull of sleep, finally grasping ahold of a peaceful slumber with the safety he felt from his mentor being beside him.
A/N
This prompt has been done so many times but I could not pass up such a soft Merlin and Gaius moment ;-; man I love their relationship.
I'm really enjoying writing these. I wasn't really sure I would, but they're so much fun and I get to explore so many interesting avenues. I already have like eighty prompts to do and I keep thinking of more. I have so much planned for this, it's gonna go on for forever.
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed! Let me know your thoughts, I love hearing from you!